The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-03
The Habit of Paying as You Go.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
Archdeacon Paley said that he furnish
ed the ladies of his family with ready
money for their shopping it was such
check upon the imagination. Persons who
are familiar with the retail trade will upon
this theory concede that the buying world
has grown less imaginative than formerly.
The proportion of cash paid over shop
counters has become much larger than in
the old times, though there is yet room to
make it larger. The labor and expense of
of bookkeeping have been very much les
sened and its processes simpli6ed. OF
course there are relations between retail
ers and certain of their customers in which
the old habit of credit is still followed, yet
as a rule "monthly statements" are render
ed. Payment within thirty days is by a
mercantile fiction accounted "cash.
The demand for currency is not mater
tally lessened by the giving of credit in
small transactions. There is enough OF
currency in circulation to enable all retail
trade to be done through the medium Of
actual cash, cash down. The ladies who
get value for their money know what they
want, and seek till they find it, unbound
by any condition, expressed or implied, to
buy at particular places. The actual
value of the commodity is the only
question considered Buyer and seller
are mutually pleased with their bargain,
and both are benefited.
There is a moral as well as an economic
aspect in retail transactions. Where the
indefinite limits-or no limits-of an open
account exist the buyer does not always
consider the obligation of debt. The seller
on his side may regard himself entitled to
an oyercharge, to cover waiting or other
contingencies. The casual buyer on credit,
at retail, has little opportunity to cheaper.
The buyer for cash has little need. She
holds the advantage in her hand, for hold
ing the cash she knows that the seller de-
sires her money quite as much as she covets
his merchandise. He will not readily lose
an opportunity for a good sale, completed
at once.
But the worst form of credit is where
the several members of family, young
and old, and domestics as well as employ
ers, are ell permitted to. order goods and
have them enlarged" Many family dis
putes and more expressions of surprise
come up with the unexpected amount OF
the account rendered.
1t is sometimes unhappily the case that
actual dishonesty occurs, and it OCCASION
ally happens that extravaganza is the re-
suit of an 'open account" In moral
sense all purchasers fall below the stand
ard of strict integrity when the buyer is
not fairly sure of his ability to pay within
a reasonable time. If he is looking for
future receipts, and the seller is made to
understand this and is willing to take the
risk, the trade is fair enough. But the
debtor then becomes subject to the for
bearanee of the seller, and may, if he de-
faults, be charged with dishonesty.
In the family training of children one
of the most Important things to be taught
by practice, as well as precept, is strict
honesty, and this cannot be where debt is
not regarded as serious obligation. Moth
ing is too small to be regarded in the CUES
ton of property, and no liberties should be
taken and no evasions or secresy be per-
mitted even in little transactions. The
beginning of great wrongs is in trifing
errors. The child in whose way penny
is not safe may become dangerous man
when dollars tempt him.